decreased by 3,800 to 9,650,200. Full-time employment increased by 39,300 to 6,935,600 while part-time employment decreased by 43,100 to 2,714,600.

UNEMPLOYMENT

increased by 8,900 to 569,300. The number of persons looking for full-time work decreased slightly to 413,400 and the number of persons looking for part-time work increased by 9,700 to 155,900.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

increased by 0.1 percentage point to 5.6%. Both the male and female unemployment rates also increased by 0.1 percentage point, to each be 5.6%.

PARTICIPATION RATE

remained at 63.5%.

NOTES

CAI IMPLEMENTATION

In October 2003, the ABS began the progressive implementation of computer assisted interviewing (CAI) into the LFS. Under CAI, interviewers record responses directly onto an electronic questionnaire in a laptop computer.

For the period October 2003 to January 2004 the CAI method was used on a random 10% sub-sample of survey interviews. The remaining 90% of interviews each month were conducted using the traditional 'pen and paper' method.

The sub-sample of survey interviews conducted using the CAI method was increased to 40% in February 2004 in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, and remained at 40% in March 2004. In the remaining states and the Northern Territory, the proportion of interviews using the CAI method stayed at 10% for February and March 2004. The CAI method was used for 40% of interviews for all states and territories in April and May 2004. This was increased to 70% in June 2004, and will remain at that level in July 2004.

Implementation of the CAI interviewing method is not expected to affect published estimates in any meaningful way. Nonetheless, the ABS is monitoring the situation carefully and has conducted a range of analyses on each month's data. These analyses have confirmed that any effect that the change in interview method may have had on survey responses to date has not materially affected the aggregate estimates for any month.

Subject to further analysis continuing to confirm that the change in method is not having a significant impact on survey estimates, the ABS intends to increase the use of CAI to 100% of interviews. Users will continue to be informed of the progress of CAI implementation, including the results of further analyses, through updates in this publication.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Michael Johnson on Canberra (02) 6252 6525.

PRINCIPLE LABOUR FORCE SERIES TREND ESTIMATES

EMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of employed persons generally rose from a low of 7,637,500 in December 1992 to 9,054,600 in September 2000. The trend estimate then fell slightly to 9,033,700 in January 2001, before rising to 9,466,400 in March 2003. The trend estimate then fell for three months, before rising to stand at 9,672,000 in June 2004.

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS

The trend estimate of unemployed persons fell rapidly from 920,800 in September 1993 to 728,200 in July 1995. The trend estimate then rose to 771,600 in February 1997, before falling to 583,900 in September 2000. After rising to 685,800 in October 2001, the trend estimate has generally fallen to stand at 566,100 in June 2004.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

The trend unemployment rate fell rapidly from 10.7% in August 1993 to 8.1% in July 1995. The trend estimate then rose slowly to 8.4% in February 1997, before falling to 6.1% in September 2000. After rising to 7.0% in October 2001, the trend estimate has generally fallen to stand at 5.5% in June 2004.

UNEMPLOYED MALES

TOTAL

From a peak of 572,400 in December 1992, the trend estimate of unemployed males fell to 438,200 in May 1995. The trend estimate then remained relatively flat until April 1997, before falling to 342,500 in July 2000. The trend then rose to 394,700 in September 2001, before generally falling to stand at 313,400 in June 2004.

MALES LOOKING FOR FULL-TIME WORK

The trend estimate of males looking for full-time work fell rapidly from a high of 527,300 in December 1992 to 391,600 in June 1995. The trend then remained relatively flat until mid 1997, before it fell to 288,200 in June 2000. The trend estimate then rose to 329,600 in October 2001, before falling to stand at 256,500 in June 2004.

MALES LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK

Although fluctuating, the trend estimate of unemployed males looking for part-time work increased from 44,900 in June 1994 to 53,000 in October 2000, before rising sharply to 66,000 in July 2001. After only small movements in the trend over the next year, the trend then decreased to stand at 56,900 in June 2004.

UNEMPLOYED FEMALES

TOTAL

From a high of 364,200 in October 1993, the trend estimate of unemployed females fell rapidly to 288,200 in July 1995. The trend estimate then rose steadily until January 1997, before generally falling to 240,100 in September 2000. The trend then rose to 291,900 in November 2001, before generally decreasing to stand at 252,700 in June 2004.

FEMALES LOOKING FOR FULL-TIME WORK

The trend estimate of females looking for full-time work fell from 271,400 in October 1993 to 205,800 in July 1995. The trend then rose to 223,700 in February 1997, before falling to 152,400 in September 2000. The trend estimate then rose to 188,000 in October 2001, before falling to 171,400 in October 2002. After increasing for the next six months, the trend has since fallen to stand at 159,100 in June 2004.

FEMALES LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK

The trend estimate of unemployed females looking for part-time work has fluctuated over the last 10 years, rising from a low of 82,300 in July 1995 to a high of 109,200 in April 2001. The trend estimate currently stands at 93,600 in June 2004.